2009-05-28 The genetically-altered mouse continues to prove its leading role as a human surrogate in biomedical research that reveals underlying pathophysiological causes and consequences of disease. Church et al’s recently published article in PloS Biology (May 2009, Volume 7, Issue 5) describes painstaking work to refine the genetic code for the mouse, reinforcing its value as an animal model. Build 36 uncovers sequence information specific to previously unknown mouse genes, many of which have orthologs in humans. We now have the most refined, legible, and complete genetic sequence of the mouse, with which we can conduct key “knockout” and other genetic manipulations in the mouse in order to develop more and better models of human disease, development, and behavior.